BEST welcomes new students

BEST welcomes new PhD students Thomas Wilson and Elena Gerstman

Thomas Wilson is part of the 2026 MACH-Track cohort at the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH). Thomas is a senior speech pathologist at Austin Health, supporting patients across acute units including head and neck oncology, respiratory medicine and intensive care. Thomas has broad clinical expertise in instrumental swallowing assessments and in tracheostomy and laryngectomy management. Through MACH Track, Thomas aims to further develop his research skills to enhance care for people living with dysphagia.

Headshot of Thomas

Elena Gerstman is and allied health interdisciplinary practitioner and senior physiotherapist at Austin Health currently undertaking her PhD through the Department of Physiotherapy. Elena’s health services research focuses on the use of data to improve health care delivery, frailty and novel models of care. Through this research Elena aims to develop future implementation collaborations with the frailty research group and geriatrician groups at Austin Health.

Headshot of elena

Congratulations to Elena and Thomas!